Irina Viner-Usmanova: A woman’s purpose is to have a family

Irina Viner-Usmanova is an extremely controversial figure in the gymnastics world. On one hand, her gymnasts are unbeatable and she raised the level of rhythmic gymnastics in many countries. On the other hand, as multiple reports and a whole documentary show, she perpetuates the culture of abuse in rhythmic gymnastics and is not held accountable for that in any way. Viner-Usmanova is married a billionaire Alisher Usmanov.

Viner-Usmanova was recognized as one of the GQ Super Women in Russia and gave an interview to GQ magazine, in which she talked about her life, rhythmic gymnastics, and her views on modern women.

Q: Irina Aleksandrovna, you have an amazing family: your grandpa played violin, your dad is an artist. You said that you weren’t good at drawing but I always wanted to know why your grandma did not try to prepare you for a music career from the start?

A: Because my grandpa was not able to become accomplished [as a musician] – first, the war, then he had to feed the family. We had quite a few doctors in the family, so it was decided that I had to become a doctor as well. For that, I graduated from high school with distinction and worked as an orderly at the medical unit at a factory in Tashkent, I washed and ironed the scrubs.

Q: Was that when you were still in school?

A: Of course. I needed to graduate with distinction, have work experience and get a five [the highest mark] at the entrance exam. I got a four and left for a competition. In any desшcion-making moment, any stress situation, and emergency circumstances I would go to the gym. And everything fell in place there. It was my escape.

Q: Do all your girls call you mom?

A: Generally, yes. Especially, when they step down from the medal podium.

Q: But during the process [of getting the the medal podium]?

A: That depends on whether I put them on the medal podium or not. As soon as I do, I’m [called] mom.

Q: Which qualities a girl needs in order to get onto the podium?

A: First, she needs to be naturally talented, at least in something. Second, she needs to really love gymnastics, she needs to be loyal and motivated. And natural talents – beauty, flexibility – mean nothing, if there’s no motivation and the girl is lazy.

Q: But at the same time, you said in the past that it’s impossible to see right away if a child is talented, only time can tell.

A: Of course. The only thing I can do at the first meeting is to see what’s on the outside. Sometimes it works.

Q: Did you see the talent in Alina Kabaeva right away, when you first saw her?

A: I first saw her from afar and at first, I didn’t see it. But when she started moving, I told her mom: “That’s it, she’s staying”. Her mom used to be a basketball player, she trained in the same gym as me and when she saw me, she said: “If I ever have a daughter, I’ll bring her to this woman”. Now, we’re sisters through [our] daughter.

Q: To whom do you address your famous saying “Your place is at the disco” most often?

A: To lazy girls who don’t want to do what I asked them to. I can explain something a thousand times if I see that a girl just doesn’t understand, just doesn’t know how to do yet. But when I see that she is resisting, she grew horns and sometimes a tail, as well, then – [go] to the disco. With horns and a tail, your place is at the disco and nightclubs.

Q: You have a very colourful and memorable style of clothing, manners, and speech. Does it require an effort?

A: Not at all, I make no efforts in anything. Work is love, not efforts. I make efforts in order to leave the gym on my own two feet. The rest is just love and light.

Q: But you surely have days when you get up in the morning and have no energy, right? How do you get yourself out of your house?

A: I don’t. I lie and tell myself that I won’t go anywhere. Everyone can go far, far, far. But 15-20-30 minutes later I can call and say: “I’ll be an hour late”. And I go to work.

Q: People often talk about your outfits but they talk no less about the jewellery on your girls.

A: The president of the International Gymnastics Federation would tell me: “This is not a show”. And I would reply: “Look, madame, how many diamonds you’re wearing. You and I are not young but why are you not allowing children to wear just Swarowski costume jewellery? It’s pretty.” She would slam the door, yell at me, but at the end, she agreed to it.

Q: They say you were one of the first women in Tashkent to wear a mini-skirt with black stockings.

A: Why “say”? I did. Sometimes, stones would be thrown after me. But I still wore it.

Q: Are jewels supposed to be a present from a man?

A: Of course. Even when a woman has a lot of money, it’s still better if he gifts it to her.

Q: And how does it work in your family?

A: I don’t buy anything for myself, not a single thing. I get everything as gifts. I haven’t been to stores in a very long time, so that I won’t see those prices.

Q: It is believe that Gabrielle Chanel freed women from corsets. What would you free women from nowadays?

A: Nothing. They’ve been freed so much that it’s sickening. It got to the point that men are being sued for giving women compliments. Chaos.

Q: You’ve always worked a lot. What does money mean for you?

A: The thing is that my work has always given an opportunity to live well and to support my children. Not just my son but the children who lived with me. Venera Zaripova, Amina Zaripova, Lena Kholodova, Marina Nikolaeva – all of them grew up with me.

Q: I remember that your son Anton said in an interview that the best food in the fridge was for the girls because they had competitions and his food was more modest.

A: Yes, I had such a debt to my son.

Q: Have you repaid it?

A: Of course, how else?

Q: Media often write about your marriage to Alisher Usmanov, as if you were together your whole life. But you actually met him when you were quite mature, right?

A: Of course, but we’ve been together for 45 or 46 years already.

Q: In traditional cultures, women often have their side of the house and men have theirs. And they meet somewhere on the neutral territory. Can you explain the advantages of it to people who do not understand it?

A: It’s necessary so that people won’t get tired of each other. Of course, there are such couples that cannot leave without each other. When my grandma and grandpa had a fight, the only thing she could say was “You’re silly” and he – “Little squirrel, what are you doing…” Those were the rudest words I ever heard from them. My parents were different, though. My dad traveled a lot, he painted collective farm workers, miners, steelworkers. My mom did everything on her own. I have a different experience of co-existence with my husband.

Q: People are probably jealous of you a lot. Do you pay attention to it?

A: Of course it happens, but what can I do? It’s better to ignore it. I am always saved by the practices. I only came to your GQ Super Women Award because there were people who help hospitals – for example, Ksenia Rappoport. And the next day my psychologists who helps children release the negativity tells me: “Irina Aleksandrovna, why? You’re all tight”.

Q: Medicine and sport are always moving in parallel lines. What do you think of Russian medicine?

A: I was a chair of a working group and there’s a president’s order according to my report – to recruit and teach sports doctors. We don’t have any right now. That’s why it all happens with the doping. In terms of other fields, we have genius doctors, few of them, such as Leo Bokeria.

Q: Do you think it’s important for a girl to get married in the modern world?

A: A woman’s purpose at the end is to have a family and give birth to children. It’s normal. But how do people get married now? Thet just live together, that’s normal, too. Rings and registration aren’t required. Are they the essence [of marriage]? It’s just needed for the young people to realize that they are one.

Q: Do your girls ask for advice about people they choose?

A: Yes, they show them to me. Because when they started their dalliances, I always tell them: “I’ll throw you out like a dog, and after that, your boyfriend will throw you out, you’ll see.” But I also say that if the sport interferes with school, it’s time to drop out of school. But if the sport interferes with the family, it’s time to retire. Don’t be like me.